India-Australia Joint Initiative Boosts Undersea Surveillance Tech

India and Australia have embarked on a groundbreaking science and technology collaboration aimed at advancing the detection and tracking of submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles. The agreement is expected to significantly enhance undersea surveillance technologies, according to a statement released by Australia's Department of Defence on Thursday.

The partnership sets the stage for a three-year joint research venture between Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) Information Sciences Division and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory. The Australian Department of Defence highlighted that this cutting-edge research will investigate Towed Array Target Motion Analysis technology to improve present surveillance capabilities.

Leading DSTG's Information Sciences Division, Amanda Bessell emphasized the importance of Target Motion Analysis, a term for algorithms used to track moving targets, in maintaining situational awareness, particularly when passive detection is needed. The project uniquely employs a towed array-based signal processing system, as DSTG Senior Researcher Sanjeev Arulampalam explained, involving hydrophones towed behind submarines to capture underwater sounds.

(With inputs from agencies.)